Highly acclaimed brews that underwhelmed you?

FF

 

I must be the only person who somewhat agrees with this statement. This is the only Belgian I've tried that has that yeasty overhopped smell that I get when I drink a Euro lager. IMO Duvel is blown out of the water by St. Bernardus Abt 12, not as good as (the lighter) Blonde du Mont Blanc, and is not even as good as the highly comparable Pauwel Kwak. None of those have that lagery smell and taste. Maybe "fart" and I have some kind of similar taste bud that is unusual, that just doesn't like whatever is in Duvel. Or maybe we both got a bad one? They sell a lot of Duvel here, and I bought it in a high volume supermarket, so it's not likely that it was skunked.

I'm partial to an English Pale Ale, if that explains anything.

 

I recently tried it again, And it was a fresh bottle because my local craft guy had just gotten them off the truck and it still tasted the same. I've given up on trying to understand whatever is so amazing about Duvel. I mean don't get me wrong, I could have it as an easy drinker, But as a complex craft beer it completely fails. At $12 for a 750ml bottle, I'd rather just drink a Heineken. Since in my opinion they seem like they could be from the same style.

 

Well, I wouldn't rather drink a Heineken, but even at the same price as a Duvel, I'd rather drink a Kwak.

 

Black OPs

 

Kate the Great

 

Not sure how much these were Highly Acclaimed, but two that spring to mind for me are both DFH brews.

The first was the Pearl Jam beer. A lot of hype, limited release and it tasted like PBR.

The other I tried from them was this weekend and it was the Rizing Bhines one. I don't know if it's because I tried it after an Abrasive and a Furious, but it tasted like a lager to me more than an IPA.

 

Gotta like a retract...you got my respect.

I just had Old Rasputin RIS out of the keg - pretty fucking bland.
I don't know what all the hype is about - but I'll reserve total judgement until I've had it from the bottle.

 

Sierra Nevada Torpedo. Mouthfeel is so bad, had to literally drink it like it was medicine.

 

Hopslam 2012.

 

Darklord, and Pliny...

 

Yeah, I was so amazed by Sierra Nevada Stout that Torpedo was a total disappointment.

 

Samuel Smith's nut brown didn't exactly give me an erection either. It reminded me of nuts soaked in Jose Cuervo Black.

 

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout. Drank it a few months ago, it just tasted like liquor. Also, not sure if this one counts as 'highly acclaimed' but Sprecher Black Bavarian has a 91 rating on BA and I absolutely hated it.

 

3 off the top of (my) head are:

-Hopslam (which I know may cause a Whirlwind of Hatred towards me. I'm sorry the last I had it..it wasn't all that good, Esp. for the $ - there are Simply just better out there). I think I've figured it out though..not Wild about the Honey in it..same as with Great Lakes and their "Alchemy Hour".

-Zombie Dust..which (is) Good, but for all the Hoopla', I just expected a little More.

-Troegs: Nugget Nectar (again, pretty good..but Not for the $) --- when I say Not for the $$, its NOT by any means because I mind (spending)..just bought a 4pk of KBS for $21, so..

just my opinion though & everyones Does vary. I just feel for all the Stink & Hype those Highly acclaimed brews have surrounding them, ehh.. & I do LOVE my IPA's.

 

Bell's black note. Had it on tap if that amounts for anything.

 

Rochefort 10, it seemed watery and not very flavorful to me. I will try it again one day and hopefully it will be better.

 

Abyss (2011) I drank it 14 months after I received the bottle and was really disappointed. I have one bottle left not sure if I should try to trade it or sit on it longer.

 

Where to start, well as to the more recent.

Bramble and Cherry Rye
Nooner
Ba Abraxas
Cw15
Ms 3000